There is a saying in Ayurveda that what you don’t digest will digest you. This is because if you don’t chew your food properly, it will not be digested properly either. Food that is not digested properly will form toxins and can lead to ill health.
When we rush our eating, the chances are that we don’t chew properly and we can swallow chunks of undigested food which leads to the production of toxins called ama. This puts a strain on the digestive system and weakens the digestive process, resulting in problems like constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, flatulence, bloating and general malaise.
On the other hand, chewing our food well allows the digestive enzymes in the mouth, and the mechanical action of the teeth start the digestive process in the mouth. In fact, many say that the digestion starts before the meal when we start salivating at the thought, smell or sight of food.
Some practitioners advocate chewing a specific number of times. This is not necessary, but what is necessary is that you chew your food until it is like a liquid and there are no chunks left. This will help to ensure the maximum absorption of carbohydrates, oils, proteins, and other nutrients.
In Ayurveda, it is important that you relax and enjoy your food. Slowing down the eating process and chewing well not only increases your enjoyment, but it helps you to feel satisfied with what you are eating. Eating mindfully, when you are feeling peaceful will also help you to stop when you have had enough.
Chewing and eating slowly helps to release hormones that signal that you have had enough to eat. If you eat too quickly, you may be packing in too much food before the body has a chance to release these hormones.
Eating when stressed, anxious or angry on the other hand can have the opposite effect of binge eating, over eating, addictions or obsessive eating. Learning to slow down and really do nothing else but eat is a massive game changer for many people with eating disorders or even people who are seeking freedom within their relationship with food.
Many people who have unhappy relationships with food do not chew well and often don’t even really enjoy what they are eating.
If you were going to start with just one habit to change on your journey with Ayurveda, starting to chew your food thoroughly might be the right one for you to start with.
It sounds a very simple thing to do, but if you have been in the habit of mindless eating, it could be a daunting prospect. But like anything valuable, it is really worth getting outside of your comfort zone and trying to relax, slow down and chew throughly.
Some people say they don’t have time to eat slowly, or to just eat and not do anything else at the same time. However, it is my experience that very busy people are subconsciously choosing to be busy in order to avoid suppressed feelings.
There is another saying in Ayurveda, that you are what you digest, rather than you are what you eat. This is because your physical body is completely made up of everything that you take in. If what you take in is digested properly, it can be transformed into healthy tissues. If it is not, it can hang around in less than helpful ways. This applies to food as well as emotions and life events. Creating daily habits of mindfully consuming things that you know are good for you will help you to create a whole new level of health.